Sarawak Tourism Board & Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development Awarded Grand Title Winners of the 2026 PATA Gold Awards

Picture: L/R: 

1. Mr. Mohd Akbal Bin Setia, Deputy Director General (Promotion), Tourism Malaysia - Travel Video Winner;

2. Ms. Worawan Petlolian, Marketing Communications Executive, DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort - Tourism for All - Workplace Inclusivity Winner;

3. Mr. Song Mingyu, Marketing Director, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Best Use of Emerging Technology in Marketing Winner;

4. Mr. Ivan Xu, Director of the Department of Research, Consultation and International Exchanges, China Tourism Association - Tourism for All - Travel Inclusivity Winner;

5. Ms. Wendy Chan, Assistant Director, Property Activations – Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment - Climate Action Initiative (Industry) Winner

6. Ms. Iselin Ren, Assistant Director, Social Media, Brand Strategy & Communications – Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment - Marketing Campaign – Hospitality Winner;

7. Mr. Francis Tan, Vice President of Learning & Talent Management, MGM China - Human Capital Development Programme Winner;

8. Dr. Peng Zhang, Professor, Director of Science, Fauna & Flora Management Department for Chimelong Group, China - Ecosystem & Wildlife Conservation Initiative Winner;

9. Ms Yanli Chen, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Division, Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development - Sustainability and Social Responsibility PATA Grand Title Winner;

10. Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Director-General, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) - Climate Action Initiative (Destination), Cultural Heritage Preservation Initiative, Women Empowerment Initiative, and  Youth Empowerment Initiative Winner;

11. Dr Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor, CEO, Sarawak Tourism Board - Marketing PATA Grand Title Winner;

12. Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA

13. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macao Government Tourism Office

14. Henry Oh, Chair, PATA;

15.  Mr. Benjamin Iong, Head of Business Tourism and Events Division representing Macao Government Tourism Office - Destination Marketing Campaign (Destination Marketing Organisation - Asia) Winner;

16. Ms. Liz Lam, Head of Marketing Division, Macao Government Tourism Office - Most Engaging Social Media Campaign Winner;

17. Ms. Mengqi Sun, Supervisor, International Cultural Exchange Center, China Tourism Group Travel Service Corporation Limited -  Marketing Campaign – Industry Winner;

18. Nur Syazwani Sahidan, Environment Officer of The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa - Ecosystem & Wildlife Conservation Initiative Winner;

19. Ms. Dimuthu Ranasinghe, Manager Advertising and Brand Management, SriLankan Airlines - Marketing Campaign – Carrier Winner;

20. Mr. Junghun Shin (Jeong-Hoon), Managing Director of Kuala Lumpur Office, Korea Tourism Organization -  Community-Based Tourism Excellence Winner;

21. Ms. Catherine Kong, Vice President - Corporate Communications & Community Affairs, Sands China Ltd. -  Printed Marketing Campaign (Industry) and Sustainable and Inclusive Marketing Campaign Winner;

22. Ms. Sunny Sun, Marketing Manager Asia, Tourism Fiji - Best Use of Emerging Technology in Marketing Winner; 

23. Mr. Chatchai Ruyaporn, Director Promotional Material Production Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand and his team - Printed Marketing Campaign (Destination) and Travel Photography Winner;

24. Ms. Ho-Ting Huang, Deputy Director General, Taiwan Tourism Administration on behalf of Taiwan Tourism Tri Mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters, Chinese Taipei - Printed Marketing Campaign (Destination) Winner;

25. Ms. Yi Hsuan Hsieh, Senior Officer, Nantou County Government, Chinese Taipei - Destination Resilience (All Destination) Winner

at the Award Presentation during the PATA Gold Awards Gala Dinner sponsored by Macao Government Tourism Office on Tuesday, August 18.

Missing Ms. Karen Yue, Group Editor, Travel Trade Publishing, TTG Asia Media - Industry Article Winner; Hawai'i Tourism Authority - Korea, Hawaii - Destination Marketing Campaign; (Destination Marketing Organisation - Pacific) Winner; Ms. Rachel Lees - Travel Writer, Australia - Destination Article Winner; Jetwing Hotels, Sri Lanka - Ecosystem & Wildlife Conservation Initiative Winner; Incheon Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK) -  Tourism for All - Destination Inclusivity Winner.

26 Gold Award Categories Recognise Excellence in Marketing, Sustainability and Social Responsibility Across Asia Pacific

KUCHING, Malaysia, August 19, 2026 - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 PATA Gold Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements across the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. This year, 26 award categories recognise innovative campaigns and impactful initiatives across Marketing, and Sustainability and Social Responsibility.

Among this year’s leading organisations in the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry, the Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia, has been selected as the Grand Title Winner in the Marketing category, while the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China, has been selected as the Grand Title Winner in the Sustainability and Social Responsibility category.

PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said, “The PATA Gold Awards continue to shine a light on the creativity, innovation and commitment shaping a stronger and more sustainable tourism industry. This year’s submissions were among the strongest we have seen, reflecting the remarkable efforts of PATA members and the wider industry in pursuing excellence. The winning entries show how bold ideas can create lasting impact — from innovative marketing and emerging technologies to conservation, climate action, inclusion and community empowerment. They set new benchmarks for excellence and demonstrate tourism’s potential as a force for positive change.

“I warmly congratulate all of this year’s winners and commend them for the passion and purpose behind their work. I also extend my sincere appreciation to our independent judging committee for their time, expertise and commitment to ensuring a rigorous and fair evaluation process.”

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, said, “My applause goes to all the winners for the amazing projects awarded this year, which fully demonstrate the power of tourism in highlighting and building a better tomorrow for our communities. As a destination continually evolving as a world centre of tourism and leisure, Macao is honored to join hands with PATA and be part of this initiative aimed at fostering vibrant yet responsible tourism development in the Asia Pacific.”

This year’s winners were selected by an independent judging committee comprising senior tourism professionals, academics, researchers and industry experts from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

As the PATA Gold Award 2026 Grand Title Winner in Marketing, the Sarawak Tourism Board was recognised for its Sarawak Guinness World Record – Longest GPS Journey by Successive Drones.

On December 31, 2025, Sarawak officially secured a Guinness World Record for the longest GPS journey by successive drones, completing an unbroken aerial relay of 1,706.7 kilometres across the state. The historic flight involved 128 continuous flight segments spanning the length of Sarawak and captured extensive aerial footage showcasing the state’s diverse landscapes. The achievement provided a creative and high-impact platform to promote Sarawak ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

The PATA Gold Award 2026 Grand Title Winner in Sustainability and Social Responsibility, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, was recognised for its Millennial Whispers of Stone, Shared Preservation of Heritage – Sustainable Development Program for the Systematic Conservation, Research, and Dynamic Inheritance of the Dazu Rock Carvings.

The Dazu Rock Carvings, an outstanding example of late Chinese grotto art, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. The initiative establishes a sustainable system integrating conservation, research, revitalisation and inheritance through scientific protection, academic research, adaptive reuse, community participation and international cooperation, supporting the long-term preservation and sustainable development of this important heritage site.

The PATA Gold Awards recognise excellence across a broad range of disciplines, from destination and industry marketing to emerging technology, climate action, conservation, human capital development, community-based tourism, inclusivity and youth and women empowerment.

PATA Gold Awards 2026 – Grand Title Winners

1. Marketing
Winner: Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia
Submission: Sarawak Guinness World Record – Longest GPS Journey by Successive Drones

2. Sustainability & Social Responsibility
Winner: Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, China
Submission: Millennial Whispers of Stone, Shared Preservation of Heritage – Sustainable Development Program for the Systematic Conservation, Research, and Dynamic Inheritance of the Dazu Rock Carvings

PATA Gold Award Winners 2026 – Marketing Category

1. Destination Marketing Campaign (Destination Marketing Organisation – Asia)
Winner: Macao Government Tourism Office, Macao, China
Submission: POP MART MACAO CITYWALK

2. Destination Marketing Campaign (Destination Marketing Organisation – Pacific)
Winner: Hawai‘i Tourism Authority – Korea
Submission: Hawai’i Summer Consumer Campaign: Experience Hawai’i in Korea

3. Marketing Campaign – Carrier (Airline, Cruise, Airport)
Winner: SriLankan Airlines Limited, Sri Lanka
Submission: Sri Lanka Ready

4. Marketing Campaign – Hospitality (Hotel, Resort, Management Company)
Winner: Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China
Submission: House of Dancing Water Premiere

5. Marketing Campaign – Industry (Any Other Tourism Business)
Winner: China Tourism Group Travel Service Corporation Limited, China
Submission: 2025 Asia Destination Integrated Marketing Series

6. Printed Marketing Campaign – Destination
Joint Winners:
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand
Submission: Sawasdee Thailand

Taiwan Tourism Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters, Chinese Taipei
Submission: Checking In! Central Taiwan

7. Printed Marketing Campaign – Industry
Winner: Sands China Limited, Macao, China
Submission: Sands China Presents: Dopamine: Fountain of Happiness Artbook

8. Sustainable and Inclusive Marketing Campaign
Winner: Sands China Limited, Macao, China
Submission: Empowering Inclusive Communities: The Sands Shopping Carnival

9. Destination Article
Winner: Rachel Lees, Travel Writer, Australia
Submission: Fiji Beyond the Resorts

10. Industry Article
Winner: TTG Asia Media, Singapore
Submission: TTG Asia Luxury Dec 2025, Shades of Wellness

11. Best Use of Emerging Technology in Marketing
Joint Winners:
Tourism Fiji, Fiji
Submission: AI-Powered Destination Marketing: Fiji's World-First End-to-End AI Ecosystem for the Chinese Market

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
Submission: Reshaping Scenic Experience with Technology: The Emerging Tech Marketing Project of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

12. Most Engaging Social Media Campaign
Winner: Macao Government Tourism Office, Macao, China
Submission: CreatorWeek Macao 2025

13. Travel Photography
Winner: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand
Submission: Behind the Falls

14. Travel Video
Winner: Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia
Submission: Visit Malaysia 2026 Campaign – Surreal Experiences

PATA Gold Award Winners 2026 – Sustainability & Social Responsibility

1. Climate Action Initiative – Destination
Winner: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA, Thailand
Submission: Nan’s Green Heart: Harmonizing Green Hospitality to Elevate the Living Old City toward a Low-Carbon Destination

2. Climate Action Initiative – Industry
Winner: Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China
Submission: RISE To Go Above & Beyond

3. Cultural Heritage Preservation Initiative
Winner: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA, Thailand
Submission: Chak Ngaew Ancient Chinese Market: Revitalizing a Historic Community into a New Cultural Tourism Attraction

4. Ecosystem & Wildlife Conservation Initiative
Joint Winners:
Guangdong Chimelong Group, China
Submission: Key Technologies and Applications for Global Endangered Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation

Jetwing Hotels, Sri Lanka
Submission: Reimagining Landscapes

The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa, Malaysia
Submission: Living Ecosystems in Hospitality: Integrating Wetlands, Biodiversity & Coastal Conservation

5. Human Capital Development Programme
Winner: MGM China, Macao, China
Submission: Unleashing Greatness – MGM’s Human Capital Development Programme

6. Community-Based Tourism Excellence
Winner: Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)
Submission: Biyangdo, Sustainable Island Travel Created Together with Residents

7. Destination Resilience (All Destinations)
Winner: Nantou County Government, Chinese Taipei
Submission: Extinguishing the False Lights: Cultural Identity and the Resilient Rebirth of Hehuan Mountain Dark Sky Park

8. Tourism for All – Destination Inclusivity
Winner: Incheon Tourism Organization (Incheon Metropolitan City), Korea (ROK)
Submission: AI-Driven Inclusive Regeneration with INCHEON EASY

9. Tourism for All – Travel Inclusivity
Winner: China Tourism Association, China
Submission: Forging Innovation, Striving for Excellence – Promotion Initiative of “China Service” Tourism Products and Service Innovation Cases

10. Tourism for All – Workplace Inclusivity
Winner: DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort, Thailand
Submission: Project Brighter Together – Workplace Inclusivity and Empowering Differently-Abled Youth in the Phuket Hospitality

11. Women Empowerment Initiative
Winner: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA, Thailand
Submission: Pha Mee: Empowering Akha Women through Sustainable Community-Based Tourism for Better Quality of Life

12. Youth Empowerment Initiative
Winner: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA, Thailand
Submission: Empowering Local Youth: Creating Value from Waste (Trash to Trend)

For more information on the winners and winning entries, visit: www.pata.org/pata-gold-awards. 

PATA Gold Awards 2026 Judging Committee

The 2026 PATA Gold Awards were evaluated by an independent panel of tourism professionals and experts:

• Artem Kvashuk, Chairman of the Management Board, Astana Tourism

• Bayasgalan Saranjav, President, The Mongolian Tourism Association

• Ben-Jie Lim, Chief People & Partnerships Officer, Move Travel Sdn Bhd (AirAsia MOVE)

• Bharat Nagpal, Senior Director, Sojern Asia Pte Ltd

• Cheryl Hurlbut, Convenor/Instructor, School of Tourism Management, Capilano University

• Chris Adams, General Manager, Miles Partnership

• Dongyoon Yoo, Professor, Youngsan University

• Elaine Yang, Associate Professor, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University

• Fabrizio Orlando, Global Director, Industry Affairs, Tripadvisor

• Guido Lloyd, Senior Sourcing Director APAC, Nuitee Travel Ltd.

• Jie Huang, Director of Sales and Marketing, Stargazer Co., Ltd.

• Justin Ong, Regional Manager, MEAPAC, Hotelbeds Pte. Ltd.

• Mike Stewart, Regional General Manager South East Asia, Intrepid Travel

• Nicholas Traviss, Director, Aquamarine Projects Ltd.

• Dr. Paithoon Monpanthong, GSTM Program Director, Graduate School of Tourism Management, National Institute of Development Administration

• Rob Simons, Vice Dean of Education and Lecturer, Breda University of Applied Sciences

• Roni Weiss, Executive Director, Travel Unity

• Sara Nunes, Associate Executive Dean, Higher Colleges of Technology

• Sarah Gardiner, Director, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University

• Shiva Dhakal, Founder / Managing Director, Royal Mountain Travel

• Simon Moriarty, VP, Syndicated Research, MMGY Global

• Stephen Dutton, Global Insights Manager: Travel, Euromonitor International Limited

• Stewart Moore, Chief Executive Officer, EarthCheck

• Sunny Chang, Director, Global Business Development, Tidesquare Co., Ltd.

• Warren Gama, Manager – Business Intelligence Program, Vanuatu Tourism Office